Gleason’s Gym re-enters the world of Professional Boxing Promotions February 3 at the Masonic Temple in Fort Greene, after a 20-year hiatus. The celebrated boxing gym located under the Manhattan bridge in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn, has not been an active player in professional boxing promotions since 1989, when such notable fighters as Riddick Bowe fought on its shows.
Gleason’s Gym is America’s oldest and largest active boxing gym, opening its doors in 1937 at its original location in the South Bronx.
No less than 131 world champions later and Gleason’s has decided to throw its hat back into the ring of Professional Boxing Promotions. Gleason’s goal is to create a strong grass roots foundation of boxing promotions in New York.
Gleason’s Gym, Inc. will promote its “Tuesday Night Fights” on the first Tuesday of each month at the Masonic Temple, with the first bout commencing at 7:30 p.m. The series will begin February 3 with a very strong card headlined by Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion vs. Kermin Guardia, both for- mer world titlists battling
over eight rounds.
Also the undefeated “Prince of Egypt” Ahmed Samir will take on the tough New Yorker Jerry Spiegel, and the undercard will feature a lot of local talent from the New York area. The show will also feature the professional debut of Keisher “Fire” Mcleod-Wells, the former two-time World Amateur Champion.
Bruce Silverglade, owner of Gleason’s Gym says, “I
am very excited to get back .
involved with promotions. 1 want to make Gleason’s Gym ‘a one stop shopping gym’ for boxing people.” He explained, “The fighter can train here with some of the best trainers in the world. We will assist the amateurs with a membership discount and arrange for them to compete on our monthly amateur shows. Once they determine to turn professional, we will introduce them to reliable management and promotional groups and finally give them a place to start their careers on our monthly professional shows.”
Gleason’s Gym is located at 77 Front Street For more, call 718-797-2872 or go to www.gleasonsgym.net.
